[Meet the President] The Catholic University of Korea fosters innovation, global citizenship

When a university best known for its College of Medicine confronted the fourth industrial revolution, The Catholic University of Korea did what any other school would have done: create new medical-themed departments involving cutting-edge technology.

In a recent interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily, Rev. Luke Won Jong-chul, president of The Catholic University of Korea, said that international students from all religious backgrounds are warmly welcome at the university. [PARK SANG-MOON]

When a university best known for its College of Medicine confronted the fourth industrial revolution, The Catholic University of Korea did what any other school would have done: create new medical-themed departments involving cutting-edge technology.

That’s how the university came up with the department of medical and biological sciences and the department of biomedical-chemical engineering, just to name a few.

“We look forward to these departments creating a synergy effect with our traditional strongholds of medicine, nursing and pharmacy, and in doing so, elevating the university’s educational philosophy of respect for human dignity,” Won Jong-chul, president of The Catholic University of Korea, told the Korea JoongAng Daily last Friday.

During the conversation, Won explained how his university is fully receptive to international students of diverse religious backgrounds and the steps being taken to create a more foreigner-friendly environment on campus.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q. You have been serving as president of The Catholic University of Korea for more than six years. How much has changed since 2017?

A. There were lots of ups and downs over the years. At least one good thing was that we shifted our focus away from humanities and social sciences by newly establishing departments specializing in cutting-edge technologies, thus solidifying our position as a comprehensive university aligned with modern society. In the past, society was able to thrive primarily on humanities and social sciences, but nowadays, with various advanced industries progressing rapidly, failing to keep up with these trends can make it difficult for a university to survive. On the other hand, there was the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced us to transition to online learning. But even during those difficult times, we tried our best to maintain in-person classes. I’m glad we’re back to normal.

The Catholic University of Korea’s on-campus dormitories near the entrance of the Songsim Global Campus in Bucheon, Gyeonggi [THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF KOREA]

How would you introduce The Catholic University of Korea to prospective international students?

Founded in 1855, The Catholic University of Korea boasts a rich history of 170 years, making it the first Western-style higher education institution in Korea. The theology department is located at the Songsin Theological Campus in Hyehwa-dong, central Seoul, while the medical and nursing colleges are located at the Songeui Medical Campus in Banpo-dong, southern Seoul. The rest are here at the Songsim Global Campus in Bucheon, Gyeonggi.

The Catholic University of Korea has been chosen to participate in numerous national projects and government-funded programs. It also has partnerships with 170 schools across 40 different countries, allowing us to actively exchange students.

Among Korean universities, we ranked 13th in the 2021 QS World University Rankings. In terms of academic subjects among Korean universities, we came in 6th in clinical medicine in the U.S. News & World Report 2021 college rankings and 1st in nursing in the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2020.

The university's Central Library, also known as the Veritas Hall, at the Songsim Global Campus [THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF KOREA]

What are some of the university’s biggest strengths?

Our dormitory acceptance rate for international students is very high, about 78 percent. Almost all international students are provided with dormitory accommodation for their first year in Korea, and even sophomore and above students use our dorms at a notably high rate.

The Catholic University of Korea also offers 30-percent medical fee discounts to Korean and international students in case they receive treatment at any of our eight affiliated hospitals.

Aside from these benefits, we established many new departments in response to the advent of the fourth industrial revolution, such as the department of medical and biological sciences, the department of biomedical-chemical engineering, the department of artificial intelligence and the department of data science. We look forward to these departments creating a synergy effect with our traditional strongholds of medicine, nursing and pharmacy and, in doing so, elevating the university’s educational philosophy of respect for human dignity.

Students in the department of biomedical-chemical engineering engage in an experiment. [THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF KOREA]

How does The Catholic University of Korea seek to further globalize?

Our strategy revolves around leveraging our extensive network of Catholic universities around the world. Every year, many Catholic university students in Asia, Europe and the Americas visit our university, and our students visit theirs. Our robust international cooperation network ensures that nearly every student interested in exchange programs has the opportunity to study abroad.

About 11.6 percent of our student body are international students. By the year 2040, we hope to raise the proportion to 50 percent, like many other universities in advanced countries.

Toward this objective, we aim to enhance our global education curriculum by hiring more foreign faculty members and increasing foreign-language courses. In the 2023 spring semester, about 9.7 percent of our courses were run in English, Japanese, Chinese or French. By 2030, we want to increase the proportion of foreign-language courses to about 50 percent.

Another part of our globalization strategy is to teach Korean to international students through our Korean language institute. There were 209 students enrolled for our summer semester this year, with approximately half of them coming from Vietnam.

A design competition co-organized last year by the university’s LINC3.0 project team and the department of clothing and textiles [THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF KOREA]

What are some other benefits offered to international students at The Catholic University of Korea?

We offer scholarships to international students who achieve at least level 4 on the Test of Proficiency in Korean exam (Topik) or level 3 if they are majoring in a performing and visual arts field. First-year students and sophomores are offered 600,000 won ($450), while juniors are offered 300,000 won. This year, we are doubling the scholarship funds to 1.2 million won and 600,000 won, respectively, as a special arrangement.

At our Office of International Affairs, we have staff members who are capable of speaking English, Chinese and Vietnamese to assist students in adapting to Korean society and campus life.

We also offer Korean cultural programs such as temple stays and open briefing sessions to provide information on Korean employment and internship opportunities.

Are students at The Catholic University of Korea required to take any religious courses in order to graduate?

Although we arrange a mass in March and at the beginning of each semester, attendance is not compulsory. Korean students must twice take a single-credit course called “Christian Thought and Culture," but the curriculum primarily focuses on enhancing one’s character and cultural understanding rather than imposing a religious doctrine. This course is optional for international students.

Jamboree scouts, who were invited to the university earlier this month after evacuating from their main campsite in North Jeolla due to an anticipated typhoon, pose with K-pop dancers following their performance. [THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF KOREA]

What development plan do you have in mind for your university?

[Korean] universities are facing intense challenges more than ever before. At The Catholic University of Korea, we are trying to tackle these challenges by enhancing our globalization capabilities, innovating in education, strengthening our research capabilities, leading in industry-academic cooperation and improving our administrative systems.

To this end, starting in 2025, we will allocate 40 percent of our undergraduate admissions outside the disciplines of medicine, nursing, pharmacy and theology into two categories: humanities and social sciences, and science and engineering. These students will spend their first year in university freely exploring their desired majors based on their aptitudes by enrolling in diverse academic programs.

A variety of minor degree programs consisting of nine to 15 credits will also be introduced, allowing students to delve into diverse fields other than their first and second majors.

A special mass is arranged by the university at Myeongdong Cathedral in central Seoul on March 2 to mark the start of the 2023 academic year. [THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF KOREA]

What advice do you have for prospective international students?

I’d first like to stress the importance of learning Korean. Not knowing the local language makes studying and enjoying school life that much more difficult.

I also strongly recommend international students take full advantage of all the programs offered on and off campus. Don’t ever exclude yourself from school activities thinking you won’t be able to participate just because you’re a foreigner. I encourage international students to participate on an equal footing with Korean students.

━ President’s bio

Rev. Luke Won Jong-chul is the 7th president of The Catholic University of Korea. He has held the position of president since January 2017 and has been a professor in the department of teacher education since 1996.

Won was ordained as a priest in 1986.

Throughout his tenure at The Catholic University of Korea, he took on various roles both on and off campus, including serving as the dean of planning and development and as the director of the Center for Ongoing Formation of Priests, Archdiocese of Seoul.

Won earned his bachelor’s degree in theology from The Catholic University of Korea and his doctorate degree in education from Temple University in the United States.

━ About the university

Name The Catholic University of Korea

Type Private

Established May 25, 1855

English slogan University Finding Myself in Joy and Hope

Location Songsim Global Campus: Bucheon, Gyeonggi Songeui Medical Campus: Seocho District, southern Seoul Songsin Theological Campus: Jongno District, central Seoul

Campus size 373,039 square meters (92.18 acres)

Undergraduate colleges and departments Colleges: 5 Departments: 46

Graduate schools 14

Students (2023) Undergraduates: 8,343 Postgraduates: 2,623 Total: 10,966

Academic staff (2023) 2,425

Administrative staff (2023) 525

Employment rate (2021) 60.2 percent

English websitecatholic.ac.kr/english/main.do

Social media Instagram: @lovecuk YouTube: @user-pg8ud4cc7x

International students

Number of students (2023) Undergraduates: 490 Postgraduates: 420 Short-term students (exchange students, language training, etc.): 257 Total: 1,167

By country China and Hong Kong 71.3 percent Vietnam 10.6 percent Uzbekistan 5.1 percent Other 13 percent (32 countries)

Department with the most international students (2023) Department of Business Administration

Dormitory acceptance rate at Songsim Global Campus (2023) 77.96 percent

Average tuition of self-funded undergraduate students per semester (2023) 4.8 million won ($3,600)

YouTube @globalcuk8229

BY LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]